IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is a crucial global resource documenting the conservation status of nearly 173,000 species. It serves as a barometer for biodiversity health, providing vital data on species populations, habitats, threats, and conservation actions to inform policy and guide conservation efforts worldwide.
Overview
Added
March 17, 2026
Subject & domain
life-health · biodiversity-classification
Grade range
Grade 9 (Freshman)–Grade 12 (Senior)
Page kind
Article
Introduction
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Overview
- Global Extinction Risk: Over 48,600 species are currently threatened with extinction.
- Threatened Percentages by Group:
- Cycads: 71%
- Reef corals: 44%
- Amphibians: 41%
- Sharks & Rays: 38%
- Conifers: 34%
- Selected Crustaceans: 28%
- Mammals: 26%
- Reptiles: 21%
- Birds: 11%
- Recent Conservation Updates:
- European Freshwater Fishes: A 15-year assessment shows little evidence of recovery, highlighting a need for urgent aquatic protection.
- New Endangered Status: The emperor penguin and Antarctic fur seal are now classified as Endangered.
- Southern Elephant Seal: Now at risk of extinction due to disease.
- About the IUCN Red List:
- Established in 1964.
- Serves as the world’s most comprehensive information source on the conservation status of animals, fungi, and plants.
- Acts as a critical indicator for global biodiversity health and a tool for policy change.
- Provides data on range, population, habitat, ecology, trade, and conservation needs.
- Classification System: Uses nine categories to assess extinction risk:
- Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild, and Extinct.
Community reviews
No published reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience.